Turnbull accuses Conroy of NBN bullying

Shadow communications and broadband minister MalcolmTurnbull ... “Senator Conroy’s arrogant, high-handed approach [to the telecommunications industry] is to calculated to intimidate people into not criticising government policy” on the NBN.
Photo: Tamara Voninski

According to sources, he subsequently said “we haven’t seen another telco CEO act like this since Sol Trujillo".

Mr Turnbull said the comments were typical of Senator Conroy’s “arrogant and bullying attitude to the industry".

“After all, this was the minister who not so long ago in New York said he was so powerful that if he told telecommunications executives that they had to wear red underpants on their heads when they next had to meet him, they would do so because he was so awesome in his magnificent power," Mr Turnbull told ABC Radio.

“A minister that lords his power and seeks to bully the industry is really doing a lot of damage, both to the credibility of the government, the standing of Australia and the perception investors have of Australia ... Senator Conroy’s arrogant, high-handed approach is to calculated to intimidate people into not criticising government policy."